The Secret to Eliminating Medical Errors

Why do medical errors continue to proliferate, despite numerous concerted efforts to reduce or eliminate them? One big reason is fear, says Chet Wyman, MD, chief medical officer for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. People are afraid to speak up. They don't know how to handle conflict constructively. And they feel powerless. In Dr. Wyman's presentation, "Fear: The Hidden Killer," at OR Excellence at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Fla., he'll explain how to recognize fear in your organization and talk about strategies to eliminate it and to improve communication and trust. We caught up with Dr. Wyman recently, view a Q&A about his session here.